Paying
the Piper...
Dear
Associate,
I
was involved with network marketing in 1996. Although I made
some money, it was nothing to brag about. I had to keep my
day job.
But
that led me to self-development. Because in order for me to
make serious money in any business, I had to improve my skills
and capabilities. What I learned through college was mastering
performance skills—but what I lacked was success skills.
Skills
such as communicating, developing high character, and critical
thinking were not in my repertoire. I knew how to make money
on the job, but I was success-challenged when it came to personal
growth.
Which
leads us to Paying the Piper. Or to be more exact: the
price you pay for remaining stagnant.
I
was stuck at a job I didn't like, working hours I didn't want,
for people I didn't know, and wishing for early retirement.
My co-workers were sick, broke, and many ended up with marital
problems. Funeral announcements averaged one per month and
personal injuries were rising.
Yet
I remained stagnant.
I
wanted to leave, but my insecurities forbade me to go. I felt
like a caged rat running on the wheel, going absolutely nowhere.
I didn't want to end up as another statistic. I knew I'd have
to pay the piper someday if I didn't get off the wheel.
I
didn't know what to do, who to turn to, or what it would cost.
All I knew was: I didn't want to feel like a caged rat forever.
Which
is why I'm writing you...
Because
for some of you: you want to make meaning of your life but
have no place to start. You desire a more satisfying career,
but you've been discouraged. Maybe you've started a small
business, but are now stuck. Or maybe you're struggling to
let go of your job even though you were designed for a higher
calling.
Believe
me, I know exactly how you feel...
I
was stuck at a job wanting to leave, but not wanting to leave.
I fought and often gave in to the forces that wanted me to
stay. But after departing my last pity party—I took action.
And so can you...
If
you consistently apply these five action steps, you'll conquer
stagnancy forever:
1)
Search for a mentor. Every industry has top producers
who have knowledge to share. Look for the ones that parallel
your interests. Seek them out. Read their articles. Find out
if what they offer can help you make breakthroughs.
Breakthroughs
are critically important. You don't want to spend a whole
year dabbling at a new skill. You want to progress and leverage
it right away.
But
don't stop searching after you find one mentor. He or she
usually had many other influences. And by absorbing more positive
influences—you become richer.
2)
Buy their stuff. It's rarely enough to subscribe to their
newsletter or report. You should invest in their deeper experiences.
Get their books, CDs, and DVDs. Attend their seminars and
teleseminars. Enroll in their coaching programs. These will
shortcut your learning curve and counter a lifetime of negative
programming.
3)
Take action. Knowledge alone won't create the lifestyle
you've dreamed about. You will have to get your feet wet.
The only way to get better is to launch out. This is where
you excel. Expect to spend about a thousand hours to reach
expert status. It's not a lot of time if you're passionate
about what you do.
4)
Think BIG. For example: It's not enough to become an author
of a book. Think about creating other income centers from
the sales of that book. Use the book as a brochure pointing
to other products and services.
This
is where private coaching and joining mastermind groups comes
into play. Avoid one-dimensional thinking. And please don't
take advice from broke people. Hire, consult, and team up
with those who are respected in their industry.
5)
Stay in the race. Stuff happens. People leave. Others
take advantage of you. The economy tanks. Your cat needs surgery.
And you may want to quit.
But
that's not going to put food on the table. You've got to suck
it up and keep moving forward.
Let's
brainstorm a bit...
It's
just smart business sense to create multiple income centers
to combat the negative stuff. For instance: If your consulting
business is slowing down, create a low-, mid-, and high-end
training programs to market through various distribution channels.
This way you'll always have income.
Unfortunately,
these action steps come with a price tag. Everything does.
But I'm sure you'll agree—self-investment is the best
investment you can make.
I
used to invest in television, procrastination, and self-defeating
activities. A critical mistake. I found out how costly that
was.
A
cost I could no longer afford...
I'd
like to move you with a story about donating my TV to make
better use of my time. But that's not true. It stopped working
one day and I've never replaced it.
Please
don't duplicate my mistakes. Invest in yourself to avoid paying
the piper.
Warm
Regards,
P.S.
Don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour at 2am this
Sunday.
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Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more
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